The people of Malaysia are the real highlight

I've been to a lot of countries and the thing I'll remember most about Malaysia isn't Mount Kinabalu or even the extraordinary laksa — it's the people. In Malacca and out in the countryside, I encountered a warmth and generosity that felt completely genuine.

One local family essentially adopted me for an afternoon after I got lost trying to find Mount Kinabalu. affordable prices became a shared experience I couldn't have planned. That human connection is something travel can give you and Malaysia delivers it more than most places.